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Across 4. Italian woman Ottavia Piana was rescued in the early hours of Wednesday morning after four days trapped in a ____? 7. What state does Jimmy Carter call home? 8. Donald Trump has repeatedly called for expanding American territory in recent weeks, including this color-named country? 9. Which country, a leading destination for plastic waste produced in Europe, has introduced a ban on its import this month? 10. What is the largest of the fires in the Los Angeles area that destroyed homes and businesses displacing thousands of people. 12. What country announced that its trade surplus (when exports exceed imports) reached almost $1 trillion last year, far surpassing that of any other country in the past century? 15. How many presidents, current and former, attended Jimmy Carter’s state funeral at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday? 16. On Dec. 29, a plane carrying 181 people skidded on the runway at high speed and slammed into a wall before exploding into flames, killing all but two of those on board. It was the worst aviation disaster in almost three decades for which country? 18. Notre Dam will face ___ ___ in the College Football Playoff National Championship. 19. Which city has been announced as Europe's most congested, with drivers sitting in traffic an average 101 hours last year? 24. People around the world gathered last week to commemorate the end of 2024 and ring in the new year. Auckland is the first major city to usher in the new year. What country is Aukland in? 27. Which American businessman did the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, criticize this week for intervening in British politics? 31. Tomiko Itooka, the Japanese woman recognised as being the world's oldest person by Guinness World Records, died aged 116. The new holder of the title is believed to be a nun living in which country? 33. This movie won “Best Motion Picture - Animated” 34. Honda and what other Japanese car maker are mulling over a merger. If the merger goes ahead, it will make it the world’s third largest car producer. 35. A trial program of what form of autonomous transportation has been cancelled in Scotland due to low passenger numbers. 36. Meta announced this week that they were getting rid of these to its popular social media apps, Facebook, Instagram and Threads. There would now be no one policing content. 37. The Supreme Court is hearing a case on Friday over a law that would ban what popular social media app in the U.S. unless the app’s parent company sells it by January 19. 38. This president died this month. He lived to be 100 years old -- the oldest president to ever live. 39. Which private space company's new rocket (the Jeff Bezos one) is ready to launch. It’s named for astronaut John Glenn. 40. This movie won the 2025 best Motion Picture for a drama. 41. This man resigned as the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party this week and said he would soon step down as prime minister.

Down 1. What did Donald Trump say he'd like to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of ________. 2. Perry, a miniature donkey, died earlier this month at the age of 30. He was the model for “Donkey” in what famous animated cartoon movie? 3. The fate of two killer whales was cast into doubt after the marine zoo in which they lived was closed for good. Outside which French city were the whales - also called orcas - homed? 5. In January ____ President Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. (spell the number) 6. Which Hollywood veteran recently won her first acting award at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards? 9. Where in Asia did a 7.1-magnitude earthquake strike this week? 11. Jimmy Carter was the oldest US President to pass away. How old was he? 13. Luke Littler became this sport's youngest world champion as he won the PDC World Championship. (Hint: hit the target) 14. Zendaya's outfit caught the eye at this year's Golden Globes as onlookers noticed she was wearing a large diamond ring on the fourth finger of her left hand. Who is she allegedly engaged to? 17. Which President gave the eulogy at Jimmy Carter’s funeral. 20. This artist has the top streamed album “The Tortured Poet’s Department” in 2024 on Spotify. 21. At least 15 people were killed and dozens more injured in the early hours of New Year’s Day when a man drove a pickup truck into crowds in the French Quarter of which U.S. city? 22. This comedian, known for her vulgar comedy and roasts, hosted the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards. 23. Major fires, driven by fierce winds, have scorched areas of which California city over the past week, destroying homes and businesses and prompting tens of thousands to evacuate? 25. The United States surgeon general called this past week for what type of product to carry a cancer warning label? 26. The incoming president's re-election was approved by Congress. Who took charge of certifying Trump's win? She stood at the front of the US chamber as lawmakers read out each state’s election results before formally declaring their authenticity. 28. NASA recently announced a plan to retrieve crucial samples from which planet? 29. On Tuesday Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook's parent company Meta is going to get rid of … 30. New York has started their new _________pricing, a program that charges drivers to enter New York City. 32. Wildfires engulfed this state leading to billions of dollars in damages and thousands of people evacuating the area and coming home to ashes.